Apparatus for distilling petroleum



No. 6|9,593. Patented Feb. I4, |899.v

F. w. MANN.v APPARATUS FOR DISTILLING PETROLEUM.

(Application med mr. so, 189s.)

(No Mobel.)

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FREDERICK WILLIAM MANN, OF FRANKLIN, PENNSYLVANIA.

APPARATUS FOR DISTILLING PETROLEUM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 619,593, dated February 14, 1899.

Application filed March 30, 1898. Serial No. 675,699. (No model.)

To a/Z whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK WILLIAM MANN, of Franklin, in the county of Venango and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and Improved Apparatus for Distilling Petroleum, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to certain improvements connected with the distillation of petroleum, and has for its object'the production of a larger percentage than hitherto obtained of the lighter hydrocarbon compounds having a greater value than the heavy residue; and it consists of the novel` mechanism which will be hereinafter described and claimed.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in both the figures.

Figure l is a cross-sectional elevation of an apparatus adapted to carry out the process; and Fig. 2 is a crosssectional view, taken through the distilling-chamber, on the line 2 2 of Fig. l.

In ordinary processes ofdistillingpetroleum there is a considerable residue of the heavy hydrocarbons, which have a relatively small market value. Various processes have been designed for decreasing the proportion of these heavy hydrocarbon compounds. The object of the apparat-us herein shown and the process described is to reduce the proportion of these heavy hydrocarbons to a relatively smalleramount than is secured by any of the present processes. Oneprocess now in use and known as the cracking process submits the hydrocarbon vapors to the action of heat, which breaks up the molecules of the hydrocarbons into other arrangements, resulting in producing a larger proportion of the valuable compounds than by processes preceding it. My process is one which resembles the cracking process; but I have discovered that the results produced by the cracking process may be improved upon by subjecting the hydrocarbon vapors simultaneously to the action of pressure and heat.

I will first describe the apparatus 'herein illustrated by which my process may be carried out. It is of course understood that other apparatus might be employed for carrying out my process and that the apparatus herein shown is given simply as an illustration of how the process may be carried out.

The distilling-chamber is formed of a shallow cup A, preferably made of cast-iron and with its bottom sloping upward toward the center, so as to produce a flow toward the edge thereof of anyliquids which it may contain. This cup is provided with a l'langeA, extending aboutits edge, and also with openings closed by suitable plugs a at the lowest point of the cup and acting as drains for discharging the contents of the cup when the cup is to be cleaned. It will not be necessary to provide for drawing o oil from the still while in use, as all the oil will be vaporized and passed over to the condenser. A cone D of relatively small height is provided with a flange D', adapted to `be secured to the fiange A and thus to form an inclosed chamber. Within this distilling-chalnber is a partitionplate C, which is suspended by stay-bolts C2 from the cone D and is thereby held atashort distance above the bottom of the cup A. In the center of this plate C is formed a pocket C', which rises above the bottom of the cup A and above the plane of junction of the flanges A and D', thus forming a space of greater width than ordinarily between the partition C and the bottom of the cup A. The distilling-chamber thus formed is heated either by using a sufficient volume of superheated steam introduced into the chamber or by constructing a furnace beneath the chamber. The walls of such a furnace are shown at N. As shown in the drawings, the heat is obtained from gas-pipes O, having perforations Atherein for the discharge of gas. In lieu thereof it is obvious that ordinary grates or solid fuel may be used.

At the center of the cup A is introduced a short pipe B, through which the hydrocarbonsvare injected into the distilling-chamber. The pipe B is connected to two pipes B and B2, one of which is connected with a source of steam-supply and the other with the petroleum-supply. 'Ihe pipeB serves as a mixing-chamber for the steam and oil. The petroleum is injected into the distillng-chamber as a spray and either with or without the addition of steam. If steam is used, it is preferably superheated steam.

The distilling-chamber is provided with a IOO pyroineter P and a pressure-gage P. To the apeX of the cone D is attached a gooseneck F, which is constructed in the form of a conical cylinder. Beneath the opening connecting the gooseneck with the cone D is suspended a plate E by means of bolts c, passing through the same and the top of the cone D.

To the upper end of the gooseneck F is attached a pressure-retaining valve G and a pressure-gage G. The pressure-retaining valve may be of any ordinary or preferred construction and is capable of being set so as to maintain the pressure in the distillingchamber at any point desired and to discharge the contents of said distilling-chamber whenever the pressure exceeds such point. The discharge from the pressurevalve is through a pipe I, which isinclined downward as it extends away from the pressure-valve. This pipe discharges into the lower end of a condenser H. The gases pass upward through the condenser and through a spray of water introduced through the rose or spraying-head K at the top of the condenser. This spraying-head is connected to a pipe extending without the condenser. The gases which have not been condensed by their upward passage through the condenser are discharged through a pipe L into other condensers and are ultimately condensed into oil. The openings of both the pipes I and L are protected by an inclined plate 7L of sheet metal against the water of the spray. The water used for condensing the vapors and the condensed oil is discharged through a pipe M, connected with the lower end of the condenser. The condenser H is provided with suitable gages J and J The operation is as follows: The cast-iron dish or cup of the distilling apparatus is first heated either by gas-jets or by a furnace beneath the same. Through the pipe B alittle dry steam is admitted, and the temperature is raised to about 800 Fahrenheit. The pressure-valve G is set so as to retain a pressure of about fifty pounds. The spray of cold water is then started in the condenser. When the apparatus has thus been placed in condition for operation, the petroleum is injected through the pipe B in the form of a spray, either with or without superheated steam. The vapors of the petroleum coming in contact with the heated dish or cups are thoroughly crackedthat is, the molecules are broken up and reassembled in such form as to produce a larger proportion of the Valuable hydrocarbons. These are discharged through the pressurevalve into the condenser. The condensing of the vapors is carried on by any ordinary process. I have herein given the pressure as iifty pounds and the temperature as 800o Fahrenheit, as this pressure and temperature have been found to give good results. I do not, however, wish to be limited to this exact pressure and temperature, as the process may be carried on successfully by varying either pressure or temperature.

By this process an increased production of the lighter andy more valuable hydrocarbons may be obtained than bythe usual processes of distillation. By this process a larger part of the heavy hydrocarbons may be converted into the lighter hydrocarbons.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentl. A petroleum-distilling apparatus, comprisinga closed vessel having a portion thereof adapted t0 be heated, a partition within the vessel lying close to such heated surface, means for introducing a petroleum-spray into the space between said partition and the heated-surface of the vessel, and means for maintaininga uniform pressurein said vessel, substantially as described.

2. A petroleum-distilling apparatus, comprisin g a closed vessel having a portion thereof adapted to be heated, a partition within the vessel lying close to said heated surface, means for introducinga petroleum-spray into the space between the said partition and the heated surface of the vessel, and a pressurevalve controlling the discharge from said vessel, substantially as described.

3. A petroleum-distilling apparatus, coniprising a closed vessel having a portion thereof adapted to be heated, a partition within the vessel lying close to said heated surface, means for introducing a petroleum spray into the space between the said partition and the heated surface of the vessel, a pressure-valve controlling the discharge from said vessel, and a condenser connected to said discharge, substantially as described.

4. A petroleum-distilling apparatus, comprising a closed vessel having a portion thereof adapted to be heated, a partition within the vessel lying close to said heated surface and at its center having a pocket which increases the distance between the partition and the vessel-wall, a petroleum-spray dischargin ginto said pocket, and a pressure-valve controlling the discharge from said vessel, substantially as described.

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